Repaired Space Shuttle Atlantis Ready for Take-Off

NASA workers have completed the delicate work of repairing the launch pad on the shuttle Atlantis, which is scheduled to lift off on August 27, 2006. The mission is to resume construction of the International Space Station, which has been stalled since the 2003 Columbia disaster.

NASA decided to swap two of the four bolts holding Atlantis' main communications antenna in place, as they were found to be dangerously short, and liable to pop out during liftoff with potentially cataclysmic results.

Replacing the bolts, while the shuttle was in a vertical state has been a risky and unprecedented repair work. Atlantis had already been moved to the launch pad when the error was brought to the attention of NASA managers. Replacing the bolts while the shuttle was in a vertical position at the pad greatly complicated the procedure.

Kennedy Space Center spokeswoman, Tracy Young confirmed that the wrong bolts have been in place since Atlantis was manufactured 25 years ago. Torque tests showed that the antenna was securely anchored. However, as a precaution, the changes were made. "As a precaution, we changed them out anyway. Better to be safe than sorry," she said.

The bolt change is complete. It took a lot of doing to accomplish the task as technicians had to work mid-air on platforms to reach the top of Atlantis' 60-foot (18-metre)-long payload bay. They removed two short bolts that held the main communications antenna in place and installed longer fasteners.

A mistake made during the manufacturing of the spacecraft 25 years ago has finally been rectified albeit after the spacecraft has safely flown 26 times.